Wire wrapping tool



May 9, 1967 G. .1. LAMOUREUX WIRE WRAPPING TOOL Filed Nov. 10, 1964 \NVEMTOE J.LAMOURELJX as BY a.c.. 8

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,318,344 WIRE WRAPPING TOOL Gilbert .l. Lamoureux, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 410,204 (Claims. (Cl. 140-124) This invention relates to a wire wrapping tool, and more particularly to a tool for winding wire conductors around electrical terminals.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved wire wrapping tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire winding bit having a Wire guiding element which is rotatable to reduce the wear on the wire guiding surfaces thereof and which may readily be replaced when it becomes worn.

A wire wrapping tool illustrating certain aspects of the invention may include a power-driven bit supported for rotation in a stationary sleeve forming a part of the housing of the tool. At one end thereof the bit is provided with an axially directed bore for receiving a terminal therein, an elongated peripheral groove disposed in parallel and spaced relation to the bore for receiving the end portion of the wire which is to be wrapped around the terminals, and a transversely disposed recess in the end portion thereof intersecting the peripheral groove. A roller is supported in the recess transversely of the axis of the bit for rotation about its axis and for revolving movement with the bit and has an intermediate portion of reduced cross section which is disposed between the 'bore and the longitudinal wire-receiving groove and provides a rotatable curved surface for guiding the wire along a curved path as the wire is withdrawn from the longitudinal groove and wound onto the terminal.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wire wrapping tool embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of the barrel of the wire wrapping tool;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational sectional view of one end of the tool;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the wire winding tool showing a terminal therein and a wire partially wound thereon; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a winding bit.

Referring to the drawings, the wire wrapping tool 8 comprises a housing 10 having a handle 12 and enclosing an air motor (not shown). The motor is actuated by compressed air supplied through a line 16 under control of a trigger 18. Extending forwardly from and secured to the housing 12 is a sleeve or barrel 20 in which a winding bit 22 is supported for rotation. The bit 22 is connected to and rotated by the motor in response to actuation of the trigger 18.

As shown in the enlarged views (FIG. 24) the winding bit 22 is provided at one end thereof with an axially directed bore 24 for receiving a terminal 26, and a 10ngitudinally directed recess or groove 28 in parallel and spaced relation to the bore 24 for receiving the end portion of a wire 30 which is to be wound around the terminal 26. At its forward end the bit 22 is provided with a transversely and eccentrically disposed recess 32 which is in the form of a notch as disclosed in FIG. 3 and is in the form of a cylindrical aperture as indicated in FIG. 5. The recess 32 intersects the groove 28 and a portion of the bore 24 and is provided with cylindrical bearing surfaces 34 for supporting a roller 36.

3,318,344 Patented May 9, 1967 The roller 36 which may be made of metallic or ceramic material has spaced cylindrical journals 37 at opposite ends thereof which engage the cylindrical bearing surfaces 34 of the winding bit. Round end portions 38 of the roller conform in part to and engage the inner surface of the sleeve 20. The flat end surface 39 of the bit 22 is disposed perpendicularly of the bit axis and tangentially of the journals 37 of the roller and of the cylindrical bearing surfaces 34 of the bit recess 32. In the embodiment of the bit shown in FIG. 3, the flat end surface 39 thereof cooperates with a portion of the cylindrical bearing surfaces 34 of the bit recess to form hook portions 40 on the bit, which portions 40 retain the roller 36 against displacement axially from the bit and for rotary movement therewith.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate portion 42 of the roller is reduced in diameter to conform substantially to the bore 24 and provide clearance for the rotation of the winding bit 22 and the roller 36 relative to the terminal 26. The reduced intermediate portion 42 of the roller is positioned between the bore 24 and the groove 28 of the bit and provides a curved surface for engaging and guiding the wire 30 along a predetermined path onto the end surface of the bit and onto the terminal during the wire wrapping operation.

In the operation of winding a wire 30 onto a terminal 26, the end portion of the wire is inserted into the iongitudinal peripheral groove 28 of the winding bit 22, an intermediate portion of the wire is bent partially around the roller 36 and is directed laterally through a notch 44 in the projecting end portion of the sleeve 20, and a portion of the wire is bent downwardly to hold such portion of the wire against rotation with the bit. The tool with the wire 30 therein is then advanced relative to the terminal to effect the insertion of the terminal within the bore 24, after which the trigger 18 is pressed to effect the actuation of the motor and the rotation of the bit 22.

As the bit rotates, the end portion of the wire 30 within the groove 28 is carried around the terminal 26 and successive portions of the wire are withdrawn from the groove 28- and are bent around and impart rotation to the roller 36 and are guided thereby along a curved path onto the end surface 39 of the bit 22 and onto and around the terminal 26. As successive turns of the wire 30 are wound onto the terminal they engage the end surface 39 of the bit 22 and effect the movement of the winding tool 8 axially of the terminal in the usual manner.

With the rotatable wire guiding roller, the wear on the curved wire guiding surfaces is reduced and the useful life of such wire guiding surfaces is extended. In addition thereto, the wire guiding roller may be readily replaced when it becomes worn without the need for replacing the wire winding bit.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangement is simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool for winding wire around a terminal, the combintion of:

a rotary bit having a substantially flat end, an axial bore extending from said end for receiving a terminal therein, a groove extending from said end in arallel and laterally spaced relation to said bore for receiving an end portion of a wire which is to be wrapped around the terminal, and a bearing recess in the end portion thereof disposed transversely and eccentrically of said bore and intersecting said groove;

means including a stationary sleeve for supporting said bit for rotation; and

roller rotatably supported in said transversely disposed bearing recess of said bit for rotary movement with said bit for guiding the wire along a predetermined path as the wire is withdrawn from said groove and Woundonto the terminal.

In a wire wrapping tool, the combination of:

rotary bit having an axially directed bore extending from one end thereof for receiving a terminal, an axially directed recess extending from said one end in parallel and laterally spaced relation to said bore for receiving an end portion of a Wire which is to be Wrapped around the terminal, and a transversely disposed bearing recess in said one end intersecting said axially directed recess and said bore;

means including a stationary sleeve for supporting said bit for rotation; and

roller supported in said transversely disposed hearing recess of said bit for rotation about said axis and for rotary movement with said bit to guide the wire along a predetermined path as the Wire is withdrawn from said axially directed recess and wound onto the terminal.

In a tool for Wrapping a wire around a terminal, the

combination of:

means including a stationary sleeve for supporting said bit for rotation; and

a roller supported in said transversely disposed bearing recess of said bit for rotation about its axis and for rotary movement with said bit to, guide the wire along a predetermined path as the wire is withdrawn from said groove and Wound onto the terminal, said roller having curved end portions conforming in part to the inner surface of said sleeve and restrained thereby against-movementaxially of the roller.

In a Wire wrapping tool, the combination of;

rotary bit having a substantially flat surface atone end thereof disposed perpendicular to the axis-thereof, an axially directed bore extending from said one end thereof for receiving a terminaL'an axially di-, rectedrecessextending from said one end in parallel and laterally spaced relation to said bore for receiv ing an end portion of a wire .which is to be wrapped around the terminal, and a transversely disposed bearing recess intersecting said axially directed recess and said bore and having cylindrical bearing surfaces substantially tangent with said end surface;

means including a stationary sleeve for supporting said bit for rotation; and

a roller supported in said transversely disposed bearing recess for rotation about its axis and for rotary movement with said bit to guide the wire along a predetermined path as the wire is withdrawn from said axially directed recess and wound onto the terminal, said roller being confined by said sleeve against axial displacement from said bearing recess.

5. In a wire Winding tool, the combination of: a rotary bit having a substantially flat surface at one said bit laterally from one side thereof and longitudi-.

nally from said one end thereof and disposed transversely of and intersecting said bore and said groove and having a pair of coaxially aligned concave cylindrical bearing surfaces substantially tangent with said end surface;

means including a stationary sleeve for supporting said bit for rotation; and

a roller having a pair of longitudinally spaced cylindrical journals seated in said bearing surfaces and supported thereby against movement axially of said bit,. end portions engageable with the inner surface of :said sleeve for supporting said roller in engagement with said bearing surfaces and against movement in directions axially of the roller, and a reduced portion intermediate said journals and disposed between said bore and said groove and providing clearance for rotation of said roller and said bit around a terminal in said bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,537,074 5/1925 Ford 242-7 2,585,010 2/ 1952 Hickman et al. 2427 2,758,797 8/1956 Miklau 242-7 2,926,859 3/1960 Bos et a1 242--7 3,117,736 1/1964 Loy et al 2427 3,244,202 4/ 1966 Huang 2427 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. E. M. COMES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A TOOL FOR WINDING WIRE AROUND A TERMINAL, THE COMBINATION OF: A ROTARY BIT HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLT FLAT END, AN AXIAL BORE EXTENDING FROM SAID END FOR RECEIVING A TERMINAL THEREIN, A GROOVE EXTENDING FROM SAID END IN PARALLEL AND LATERALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID BORE FOR RECEIVING AN END PORTION OF A WIRE WHICH IS TO BE WRAPPED AROUND THE TERMINAL, AND A BEARING RECESS IN THE END PORTION THEREOF DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY AND ECCENTRICALLY OF SAID BORE AND INTERSECTING SAID GROOVE; MEANS INCLUDING A STATIONARY SLEEVE FOR SUPPORTING SAID BIT FOR ROTATION; AND A ROLLER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED BEARING RECESS OF SAID BIT FOR ROTARY MOVEMENT WITH SAID BIT FOR GUIDING THE WIRE ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH AS THE WIRE IS WITHDRAWN FROM SAID GROOVE AND WOUND ONTO THE TERMINAL. 